Early in the morning, late at night, or just any old time of the day.    We go to businesses expecting to be treated like we are valued customers.     Well, I really hate to burst your bubble, but it is not always the norm.     Like most of us we have bad days, and good days, and so it is the same for the people dealing with the public.      Or you may get that one hard to deal with customer, who expects the whole package, even if it does not come with the product.     So, there are several sides to the smile.      

       Are you one of those “no smilers”, one of those I need more than I should get people?          I have run into both of these kinds of people at one time or  another.    It is best to bite your tongue, and smile your face off.    Be polite as well.    The fluff will fly if the customer or server gets hot under the collar.            But, there are alot of things you can find in the service area, that sells the buyer short.     The dress that you bought, and god for bid you did not try it on, silly on your behalf.   The shoes that felt good while trying them on at the store, and once you wear them for ten minutes they feel like they are going to choke your feet to death.    Now you must take them back to the store and get the right size. :-O      What is the reason you are returning these?      This question can turn the even mildest mannered person into a blubbering idiot in seconds.       In your mind you are saying this is too small, but from your mouth comes the words, I, I, I, gulp, they are too small.    “Then another question.”       Do you want a larger size?      The deal breaker question that gets you out of the hot seat.    You sheepishly smile, and say Yes, and the deal is done.     The service clerk smiles as you walk away.   

     Then after all that fun at the store, you decide to go into a drive through coffee shop..    Well, this is going to be fun, the line up is six cars long, and it would seem to you that the line is not moving well at all.    You wish you could back up and go into the coffee shop, but the guy behind you is now pulled in tight, and you have no way out.  “You are committed.”         The line moves slowly, and finally after twenty minutes it is your turn to order.   “Yahoo!”      But, there is no hello may I take your order, just dead air.    You patiently wait,  and the time comes, oh boy!!!   You order your coffee, double cream, no sugar, and one sour cream donut.    Okay this seems easy, right, NOT.   

    You drive to the window, take your order, and park to have a sip of the coffee, and a bite of the donut.    “Oh Boy”.     The coffee you have is black, just black, and the donut is choclate glaze.

      Since you are out of the drive through, the only thing to do is go inside to see the clerk/server.     The place is busy, and the line up long, at this point you wish you could drink black coffee, and eat  chocolate glaze donut.     But, you ordered this, and paid for it, you want the right order.      The server at the counter has had a busy time and is still polite, and says she will refill your order, but by this time you are really stressed.   The department store exchange, and the long lines at the coffee shop, the wrong order,  are making you feel not so understanding at this time.     You are turning into one of those “no smilers.”  :-O    Your smile is upside down, and you are ready for the worst.     Not taking in the kind words spoken by the clerk you ask what is wrong with the person who filled my order?    The server (dawned with the brightest smile)  pleasently says she will refill the order for you.   The pleasent look on the servers face is like a beam of light that  turns your once frown upside down into a SMILE.         Your order is filled, and you are on your way as the servers wishes you a happy day..

    The power of a smile is endless.  It can take a stressfull day, and make it okay.  

    ”Have you worn your smile today?”